An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:

Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

Quote:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

I think it's much more likely we see Danny Duffy in the rotation than Aaron Crow, at least to start the year.

I could see Crow spending some time in Omaha to keep him stretched out and work on his curve/change and being the first call if/when a starter is hurt.

They REALLY need Odorizzi to step forward like they think he can, Lamb to come back strong from Tommy John, and Montgomery to find the strike zone. Two of those three things happening are probably more critical than any other developmental thing happening this year...

Unless you're creative like the Rays and you give Matt Moore (a pitcher with 9 career innings pitched!) a five-year, $14 million contract because 1. you know he's going to freaking good and 2. you want his agent to catch you a break when he reaches free agent status.

Unless you're creative like the Rays and you give Matt Moore (a pitcher with 9 career innings pitched!) a five-year, $14 million contract because 1. you know he's going to freaking good and 2. you want his agent to catch you a break when he reaches free agent status.

The value difference between Matt Moore - THE pitching prospect in baseball - and Salvador Perez is pretty great.

Ace starters - which Moore is going to be - are much more valuable. And even at $14 million, that's just a sniff of what Moore would get were he a free agent. He would be able to get a 5-year contract that triples that, easily.

Catcher is a less well-paid position than pitcher.

The way Perez's deal breaks down, he makes about 50 percent more than what he otherwise would have in his non-arb years, and then what looks like fair arb value for a guy with 150 at-bats. He gets a lot more up front and makes a similar amount at the back end. It's a win-win (and similar to what Joakim Soria signed).

Side note: If Mike Montgomery bursts onto the scene in the second half like many in the Royals org expect, I wouldn't be surprised to see a deal very similar to Matt Moore's tossed Monty's way.

Yea but isn't he arbitration eligible in 2 years? So then if he goes to arbitration he's going to get some shit deal based off this contract. Don't get me wrong, this is a steal for the Royals...I think Perez is that good.

Yea but isn't he arbitration eligible in 2 years? So then if he goes to arbitration he's going to get some shit deal based off this contract. Don't get me wrong, this is a steal for the Royals...I think Perez is that good.

He should get a new agent asap.

So you think he won't ask for a new contract if he wildly outperforms expectations on his new cheaper contract?

Yea but isn't he arbitration eligible in 2 years? So then if he goes to arbitration he's going to get some shit deal based off this contract. Don't get me wrong, this is a steal for the Royals...I think Perez is that good.

He should get a new agent asap.

This contract buys out his arbitration years. He will never go to arbitration now.

This is a fair contract, compared to what Matt Moore received from the Rays (the current pace-setter for these types of deals). A guy with legitimate ace starter potential - and the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball - only got twice what Perez got.

Think about that. Perez is a top 100 prospect type who plays great defense at a premium position but still has big questions about his bat at the big league level. I love the guy, but this deal is not a screw job. It's fair, based on the current market and his status within it.